Page 112 of Hey, Daddy

“I’m about five minutes away,” I said. “I’ll meet you there.”

“I’m about two minutes out,” Shasha said. “I’ll wait for you.”

I looked at my daughter. “Do me a favor and go to Nastya’s place.”

Desi rolled her eyes. “Just don’t go to jail, Daddy. I need one parent so I don’t go into the foster care system.”

I chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

She smiled at me sadly. “Go get our girl.”

I headed to Julia’s place, having no idea what I’d find when I got there.

I pulled up alongside Shasha’s car and got out.

“How did she get here?” Shasha asked when he saw me getting out of the rental car.

“No clue,” I admitted. “I’m guessing she left me the car because she didn’t want me to know she was about to get up to some mischief.”

Shasha smirked and headed to the front of the house.

Movement out of the corner of our eyes had us turning to the front window where…

“What the fuck?” I barked as I started to run.

Shasha saw it the same time I did.

Eddison was standing over Nastya with what looked like two jumper cables in his hand.

I didn’t bother with pleasantries as I burst through the door of the home that I’d once called mine.

I took two steps into the living room and got a firsthand view of the cables coming to a rest against Nastya’s skin.

A sizzle sounded, then a squeak.

And suddenly Nastya was slumped to the side.

I hit Eddison so hard that he slammed into the wall, his head bouncing off the concrete fireplace as I did.

There was a crack and then a thud, but then I was scrambling on my hands and knees as I made my way toward Nastya.

Shasha now had her on the ground, untied, and he was feeling for a pulse.

I knew the moment our eyes connected that there wasn’t one to be had.

“Nothing,” he said.

I dropped down to my knees and felt for myself.

Nothing.

No pulse.

I placed my hands over her chest, right where the CPR instructor told me to, and began chest compressions.

“Breathe,” I ordered Shasha.

Shasha bent over and breathed for her.

---